Business News Leaders

Ascendis to focus on SA after agreeing to debt-for-asset swap

Health and wellness group Ascendis has struck a deal with its lenders to swap its European assets for debt. This will reduce the firm’s borrowings by R7.6bn and leave it with assets based solely in South Africa. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Mark Sardi, CEO of Ascendis Health…

12 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Transaction Capital plans to up stake in WeBuyCars

Transaction Capital has announced that it will resume its interim dividend payouts after the company reported a strong recovery in earnings following the fallout from Covid-19. The firm, which provides insurance and financing to minibus taxi operators through its SA taxi division, has also announced that it’s in talks to…

12 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Vaccine trust, hesitancy and SA’s 3rd wave

South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases on the African continent. It has more than 50,000 reported deaths. This may be an underestimate, looking at excess death statistics. The economic cost of the pandemic is evident on the streets and healthcare facilities have been under considerable strain during…

12 May 2021 2AM 24 min

Finding value in the small-cap sector

Business Day TV caught up with Integral Asset Management’s investment officer, Keith McLachlan to find out which three companies in the small-cap sector could offer the potential for big returns.

12 May 2021 2AM 4 min

Why is the PSA declaring a wage dispute

The Public Servants Association (PSA) has declared a wage dispute after a fourth round of negotiations collapsed with neither government or public servants moving from their positions. Government is hell-bent on a 0% increase while public servants demand a 7% wage hike. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Astrid…

11 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Rand recovers from Covid-19 blow

The rand continues to recover from the initial blow it was dealt when Covid-19 hit, with the local unit gaining 30% against the dollar since the height of the pandemic. Business Day TV caught up with RMB's John Cairns and he shared his take on whether this rally is sustainable.

11 May 2021 2AM 5 min

Bold business proposal to tackle digital skills challenge

One thing Covid has done is shine a spotlight on the pre-existing digital skills crisis in South Africa, and indeed around the developing world. A recent OECD paper analysed job postings among member countries and found a sharp increase in the demand for certain digital skills ushered in by the…

11 May 2021 2AM 26 min

CDE launches report on Special Economic Zones

The Centre for Development and Enterprise has launched a report on Special Economic Zones which highlights the ability of SEZs to boost GDP growth and address unemployment. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked the findings and recommendations with Ann Bernstein, Executive Director at the Centre for Development and Enterprise.

11 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Broad-based BEE: The good, the bad and the ugly

As the winds of change are starting to blow through the political economy and as we look to rebuild after the Covid earthquake the space is opening up to talk about transformation in the country. Michael Avery prefers the term normalisation. Because that is effectively what broad-based BEE and the…

10 May 2021 2AM 26 min

Raubex upbeat over record order book

Raubex's secured order book has increased by more than two thirds to R17.1 billion over the past year, and the firm is eyeing further growth based on the government's infrastructure-led economic recovery plan. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam unpacked that outlook with CEO Rudolf Fourie.

10 May 2021 2AM 7 min

New Covid-19 variant arrives in SA

South Africa has detected cases of the coronavirus variant initially identified in India, amidst early signs of a third wave of infections in the country. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to Alex van den Heever, Health & Social Security Systems Specialist at Wits University for his rating of the…

10 May 2021 2AM 5 min

What has Karooooo got planned for 2021?

Karooooo, the new holding company for vehicle recovery and fleet management group Cartrack, has reported an 18% rise in full-year revenue as it's subscriber base expands. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam​ caught up with the firm's CEO, Zak Calisto for more insight on how the strength of the company's balance…

7 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Will Sappi have a better second-half?

Sappi may have slipped into the red during the group's first-half but the packaging and paper firm is seeing some green shoots as it says that the increase in the price of dissolving pulp will boost profits going forward. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam caught up with Sappi CEO Steve…

6 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone receives R3.5bn investment

The Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone has received a R3.5 billion investment for its port expansion project, which is expected to boost economic growth. Business Day TVs Alishia Seckam spoke to Kaashifah Beukes, CEO of the Saldanha Bay Industrial Development Zone for more detail.

6 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Kaap Agri reinstates its interim dividend

Kaap Agri has delivered a solid half-year performance, reporting a 24% jump in headline earnings as trading conditions in its retail categories improved. This has allowed the firm to reinstate its interim dividend. s Alishia Seckam unpacked the numbers with the company’s CEO, Sean Walsh.

6 May 2021 2AM 3 min

How SA miners are dealing with energy challenges

The Minerals Council SA has noted the energy challenges faced by miners in the country as they have to contend with surging electricity prices and power cuts. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam spoke to MCSA chief economist Henk Langenhoven about how this situation is prompting miners towards self-generation.

5 May 2021 2AM 8 min

Gold Fields gets green light for solar plant

Gold Fields has been given the go-ahead by the group's board to spend R660m on what will be the largest solar power plant in South Africa's mining industry. The project will help the firm reduce its reliance on Eskom for electricity and in the long run it will also help…

5 May 2021 2AM 6 min

Why is the SPAC spigot tightening?

More than a few market analysts have declared that 2021 is the year of the SPAC. Otherwise known as a special purpose acquisition company or a blank check company, a SPAC is a publicly traded entity that exists solely to raise money and acquire an existing private company. SPACs have…

5 May 2021 2AM 25 min

Will rand strength last?

We have a love hate relationship with the rand. It represents our hopes and fears as it rises and falls, so too does the national mood it seems. It is our collective share price on SA Inc. Born on February 14, 1961, the rand has gone from global pariah to…

4 May 2021 2AM 25 min

The state of government’s finances

The state’s spending levels are too high for the country’s tax base. The gap between revenue and expenditure have increased significantly this year, lifting the main budget deficit to 12.3% of GDP. Business Day TV's Alishia Seckam discussed some of the country’s fiscal pressures with RMB’s Economist Siobhan Redford.

4 May 2021 2AM 4 min